§ 6706. Unlawful Sale or Purchase of Alcohol on Election Day
TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT DIVISION 6: ELECTIONS § 6706. Unlawful Sale or Purchase of Alcohol on Election Day. (a) No person may sell, purchase or dispense any alcoholic beverages or liquor while the polls are open on the day of an election. Any person who knowingly and willfully violates this section shall upon conviction be fined not more that $1,000 or imprisoned for not more that one hundred days, or both. (b) This section shall not apply to concession stands on Managaha Island, CNMI airports, the casino facilities regulated by the Commonwealth Casino Commission, hotels, hotel resorts, or golf course resorts. Source: PL 12-18, § 2(6706); amended by PL 16-18, § 2, modified; (b) amended by PL 16-45, § 2; amended by PL 21-38 § 2 (Jan. 7, 2021). Commission Comment: The Commission deleted numbers that repeated words in this section pursuant to the authority granted by 1 CMC § 3806(e). Public Law 16-18 took effect on October 31, 2008. PL 16-18 contained severability and savings provisions and the following: Section 1. Findings and Purpose. The prohibition of alcoholic beverage sales on Election Day is to prevent conflicts between party camps escalating. The Commonwealth Legislature finds, however, that this prohibition has a potential loss of economic growth within our tourism industry. This is an industry that the CNMI has been largely dependent on for its economic growth for the past 30 years. Thus, our tourists’ visit within the CNMI should not be hampered in any way. Tourists visiting the Commonwealth on Election Day are restricted from purchasing alcoholic beverages for their consumption though they are not involved with local political affairs. The purpose of this Act therefore, is to exempt CNMI airports, hotels, hotel resorts, and golf course resorts from the prohibition of alcoholic beverage sales on Election Day. Public Law 16-45, effective on August 20, 2008, contained severability and savings provisions and the following: Section 1. Findings and Purpose. The prohibition of alcoholic beverage sales on Election Day is to prevent conflicts between party camps from escalating. The Commonwealth Legislature finds, however, that this prohibition has a potential loss of economic growth within our tourism industry. As a result, Public Law 16-18 was enacted to exempt CNMI airports, hotels, hotel resorts, and golf course resorts from such prohibition. The Commonwealth Legislature further finds that Managaha Island, a popular tourist destination, was inadvertently excluded from the exemption. The purpose of this Act, therefore, is to include Managaha Island under this exemption. See also, Commission comment on 4 CMC § 2305.
Source: CNMI Law Revision Commission